Lipsey sets one of eight meet records

Despite fourth-place finish in women's 1,000, Watson lowers her own national high school indoor record on final day in Albuquerque; Michta-Coffey extends race walk streak to eight in a row, Carter captures fifth consecutive shot put crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

There's something about former LSU standout Charlene Lipsey and Rush-Henrietta NY senior Samantha Watson being in the same race that leads to memorable results for both athletes.

Their performances Sunday in the women's 1,000-meter final at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., added another impressive chapter, not only in their respective careers, but in American middle distance history.

After Lipsey ran the No. 2 time by an American female athlete in the 800 and Watson set the national high school indoor record when they last squared off Feb. 11 at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games, Lipsey won her first national 1,000 title and Watson produced another national prep standard at Albuquerque Convention Center.

Lipsey broke the meet record by clocking 2:37.97, improving to the No. 11 all-time American performer and Watson placed fourth in 2:40.72, lowering her own national high school record of 2:43.18 run in Saturday's prelims. Lauren Johnson was second in 2:38.33 and Hannah Fields placed third in 2:40.18.

"This is my first year when I've been under a lot of pressure and people expect a lot out of me, before I was just low key, so it's a different ballgame when people are looking at you," Lipsey said. "It's definitely good. It's a good feeling. I was definitely nervous, because (Saturday) with the altitude, it was harder than I expected it to be. But I got it out of my system."

Sarah Bowman of Fauquier VA entered the weekend with the national high school indoor 1,000 standard of 2:43.40, which had stood since 2005. Watson, running at altitude for the first time in her career, broke it twice to give her a total of five national prep record performances in her final high school indoor season.

"I knew the final would be a lot faster, so I was just hoping I could hang on and place," Watson said. "I just tried to stay with (Charlene) because she was right next to me at the start. I was just trying to hang on, I tried my best, but those last two laps, she was going.

"I'm glad I got the chance to run the 1,000 before my season was over because I didn't have a good time, so I'm glad to go out with a PR."

Lipsey's performance was one of eight meet records that were broken or tied at the championships. In addition to Watson twice setting national high school records, there were a pair of all-time world bests and a new World Junior standard at the three-day meet.

Shelby Houlihan became the first woman since Jenny Simpson in 2011 and 2012 to win both the mile and 2-mile (or 1,500 and 3,000) crowns in the same meet, joining pentathlon and long jump winner Erica Bougard as the only individual to capture two titles.

Maria Michta-Coffey extended her streak of race walk crowns to eight consecutive years, covering the 2-mile layout in 13:55.27, tying Susan Brodock for most all-time national indoor race walk championships.

Michelle Carter won her fifth consecutive women's indoor shot put championship with a second-round mark of 62-5.25 (19.03m), improving to the No. 2 American performer and third in the world this year.

Ajee' Wilson earned her fourth national indoor crown, including her first in the 600, clocking 1:23.84, the second-fastest time by an American female and third all-time in the world.

Keni Harrison captured her first 60-meter hurdles title, lowering her world-leading time to 7.74 in the prelims to equal the meet record, before clocking 7.81 in the final. Harrison's prelim effort helped her move into a tie for the No. 2 American performer in history and equal to sixth all-time in the world.

Ronnie Baker secured his first 60-meter dash championship, improving his world-leading time to 6.45 to move into a tie for the No. 4 performer in American history and equal to sixth all-time in the world. Baker also matched American Terrence Trammell by clocking the fastest time ever at altitude.

Erik Sowinski secured his third career national indoor title, capturing the 600 in 1:15.07 to go along with 800 championships in 2013 and 2014. Casimir Loxsom, who set an all-time world best Jan. 27 by running 1:14.91 at Penn State, placed second in 1:15.18.

Chris Carter won his third indoor triple jump title in four years, producing marks of 56-1.25 (17.10m) in the fourth and sixth rounds, elevating to the top American and equal to No. 8 in the world this year.

Vashti Cunningham, competing in her only indoor meet of the year, defended her women's high jump crown by clearing 6-5 (1.96m), the top performance by an American female and equal to No. 4 in the world this season. Cunningham was the first female to repeat as high jump champion since Inika McPherson in 2013 and 2014.

Sandi Morris also repeated as women's pole vault champion by clearing 15-5 (4.70m), becoming the first female to capture consecutive titles since Jenn Suhr (2011-13).

Aries Merritt won his first 60-meter hurdles title since 2012, clocking the fastest time this year by an American and equal to No. 4 in the world to prevail in 7.51.

Clayton Murphy, the Olympic 800 bronze medalist and 2015 Pan American 1,500 champion, won his first national indoor 1,000 championship in a world-leading 2:18.60.

Ben Blankenship captured his first national title in the mile, covering the final lap in 27.09 seconds to prevail in 3:59.22, becoming only the third athlete to break 4 minutes in the arena.

Alex Young secured his first weight throw championship with a world-leading 78-9.75 (24.02m), ascending to the No. 12 American performer in history and 16th all-time in the world.

Morolake Akinosun captured her first 60-meter dash crown in 7.08, improving to the No. 2 American performer and fourth in the world this year.

Tori Franklin won her first triple jump national indoor title, producing a final-round leap of 45-5.75 (13.86), improving to the No. 2 American female performer and tied for 19th in the world this year.